One of the most rewarding DIY projects my husband and I have completed is the building of a custom backyard fire pit in our family’s tiny backyard. Spending time together relaxing, roasting marshmallows, and eating way too many s’mores is the perfect way to enjoy summer and fall evenings! This backyard fire pit posed some construction challenges, but at the end of the day, it was not a difficult project, and it’s one that YOU can do, too! Let me walk you through it all. . .

How to Build a Custom Backyard Fire Pit

Before Beginning Work – Things to Consider

Before you build a fire pit in your backyard, there are a few things to take into consideration. The first is whether there are any buried cables in the area that you need to be careful of when digging. The second is if your city, town, village, whatever has any codes or regulations that will impact your project. And the third is whether your fire pit will negatively impact any neighbors (smoke sensitivities, etc.). Think about all of this before beginning work to ensure a happy fire pit experience!

Phase One: Clear the Land

Once you have those things figured out, the first step in all of this is to clear out the area where you’re placing the fire pit. As you can see from this picture, we had a lot of plants (namely, giant hosta, which are difficult to remove), to clear.

Once the plants were removed, we got to work raking up the area and getting the ground level. The kids got involved in this part of the project, which was fun!

We used our level to make sure we got the ground as flat and as even as we could, and then we laid down the landscape weed barrier fabric to prevent vegetation (like those darn hosta), from growing up around our eventual fire pit.

Next, we figured out where we wanted the fire pit, and used chalk to make a circle several inches wider than the galvanized fire ring. Then we cut that circle out of the landscape barrier.

You might be wondering why we used a galvanized fire ring in our fire pit construction, when many other fire pit tutorials do not use one. The main reason is that we wanted our fire pit to be extra durable and for the landscape bricks not to get charred by the flames. One other benefit of using the fire ring is that you can purchase accessories, like grill grates and fire pit screens, that fit perfectly over the fire ring. Finally, we also thought it made it easier to create a perfect circle with the landscape bricks. While this added a little extra cost to the construction, it was worth it in our minds.

Phase Two: Preparing the Ground for Landscape Bricks

The next step was to fill in the circle with paver base. Once that was poured, my husband got to work with the tamper, pounding it down and getting a level surface that was slightly lower than the surrounding ground.

Next, we poured paver sand around the perimeter the circle – so where the galvanized fire ring and the landscape bricks would sit. We again used the tamper to make that paver sand flat.

Then we placed the galvanized fire ring into the paver sand, using a mallet to pound it into the paver sand, paver base, and ground ever so slightly, and we laid our first row of landscape bricks around the fire ring. NOTE: see how we left a space of about 2.5″ between the fire ring and the landscape bricks? This is important because if you place the landscape bricks right against the ring, by the time you get to the top row of landscape bricks, they will be too close to the fire ring and will be jutting out farther than your base row of bricks. You will have to disassemble and start over. (Prior to gluing our bricks together, we stacked all four rows to see how this would work, and it didn’t! That’s how we knew to put that space between the fire ring and the landscape bricks at the bottom.)

Once the first row of landscape bricks was laid, it was time to move onto the next row. We used DAP DynaGrip adhesive to hold our bricks together. We simply applied it to the stones and pressed them down, making sure to stagger them rather than laying them directly one on top of the other.

We repeated this process two more times, making our fire pit four rows of landscape bricks high. Note that once the landscaping went in, the first row of bricks was essentially “underground.”

Over the following weeks, I spent time landscaping around the area to make it look nicer. I will be writing up a post on that process, too!

This project took us about 8 hours to complete, and that included ripping out all the pre-existing landscape and running to Home Depot a few times for extra supplies. At the end of the day I can honestly say that if you’ve ever thought about adding a fire pit to your backyard, you should go for it! It brings a huge element of fun to your outdoor space and is a wonderful memory maker for your family and friends.

I’d appreciate it if you’d pin this post to help others find out how to make their own backyard fire pits!

I’ve been plugging along on my abandoned playroom to office makeover, friends! Progress is actually being made and I cannot wait to share the space with you soon! Over the weekend I crossed a big project for that space off of my list: restoring the original 1920’s light fixture to its original look with a faux antique brass finish. And you guys, it turned out WAAAAAY better than I expected!

Getting this faux antique brass finish required some trial and error, but in the end it was totally worth it and pretty easy to achieve! This paint technique can be replicated on so many items: furniture hardware, lamps, light fixtures, decorative accessories and more! Brass is totally trendy right now, so I think you should give this technique a try!

Supplies Needed to Create a Faux Antique Brass Finish

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How to Create a Faux Antique Brass Finish With Paint

So, you guys, look at this light fixture that was hanging in the abandoned playroom. HEINOUS! At some point in time, some previous owner of the house spray painted it white. WHY? I don’t know. It removed all of the character and charm from the fixture and left it plain and ugly. (Note: see how neglected this room was? We didn’t even care enough to put matching light bulbs in this fixture!)

Because my husband and I want to keep as much of the original character in the house as we can, I decided that I had to try to restore this light fixture to some of its former glory. Thankfully my husband was on board, and he took the fixture down for me. Once it was safely removed from the ceiling, I brushed off the loose paint with a wire brush. Some shiny gold started to peek through. Because it was SO shiny, I don’t think that was the original color; the underneath side of the fixture was a much more muted brass.

Next, I wiped it down and spray painted it with a coat of the dark bronze spray paint.

After it dried, I sprayed a coat of the classic bronze spray paint over the entire piece. I stood farther away so that I wouldn’t be spraying such a concentrated amount onto the fixture.

Once the paint dried, I took the fixture inside for round two. At this point, the paint finish looked VERY spray painted. It was pretty much a solid color all over, though there were some spots where the dark bronze paint was visible underneath the shiny bronze. The finish did not look authentic at this point, however.

I got out my trusty Briwax, which I love for furniture refinishing projects, and applied it all over with a small stencil brush. This instantly darkened the finish and added some variation in tone to the entire piece. (Please ignore my son’s half-eaten sandwich in the background of this photo. He is the world’s slowest eater and I could not wait for him to finish lunch to work on this!)

I let the Briwax sit for about 20 minutes and then gently buffed off the excess with a clean cloth. Next, I grabbed the Rub n Buff and applied some to the raised portions of the light fixture.

This added some awesome highlights onto the fixture, and really helped give it an authentic look! Can you believe this was white just a short time ago?

Once everything was dry, it was time to hang up my new, old light fixture! My husband was ready to get it installed when he decided that the old cloth wiring was definitely a fire hazard.

I thought that meant all of my work was for nothing, but then he surprised me with secret master electrician skills, and he re-wired the entire thing in no time! I was shocked (but not really, since I didn’t touch the wires – ha (get it?)), and I have no idea where he learned this from. He’s been holding out on me, I tell ya!

Anyway, once he worked his magic, he hung the light fixture with its faux antique brass finish in the office-in-progress, and I did a dance of happiness (and popped some cool new Edison bulbs in there)!

I mean, seriously, can you even believe this is the same light fixture I showed you above?!?

It looks good – doesn’t it?

This faux antique brass finish turned out so much more realistic than I expected, and I am so grateful for that! I love that I was able to save a piece of my home’s history, and keep this fixture that had been mangled and unsightly for so long. I think Nicole Curtis will want to be my friend because of this project. (She never called me after I refinished my front door instead of painting it, but I think this project might put me on her radar. 😉 )

I’m assuming that most of you don’t have an ugly 1920’s light fixture in need of restoration, so tell me what you would use a faux antique brass finish on instead? (And please ‘pin’ this graphic if you enjoyed this post!)

If you’ve ever hosted a party then you know that a lot of work goes into it, and it can be stressful! Part of the stress can be paying for the party – it is NOT cheap to host a party! Last month my sister and I hosted my mom’s Kate Spade Inspired Birthday Party, and we did it on a major budget. Despite the fact that we weren’t working with a lot of cash, we still managed to put together a beautiful evening. And because of that, I thought I would share my seven best tips for hosting a big party on a little budget! (And P.S. if you happen to be planning a milestone birthday party, make sure to also check out my post on 5 Tips for Hosting a Memorable Milestone Birthday Party!)

After you’ve read these tips, be sure to let me know if you have any others to add!

Tips for Hosting a Big Party on a Little Budget

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Tip 1: Save Money on Invitations

Invitations are clearly a necessity for any party. In addition to notifying your guests of the pertinent details, they set the tone of the event right off the bat. The good thing is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a good first impression!

Paper Invitations

If you are old school like me and enjoy sending printed invitations, check out Etsy for gorgeous, custom invitations that you can have printed at your local print shop. I ordered the invitations for my mom’s party from this shop on Etsy and paid just $9 for a fully customized file! I printed the invitations on cardstock at Kinko’s for around $15, and bought a 50-pack of envelopes at Michaels for around $3. They were beautiful invitations and I didn’t have to spend a fortune on them!

Of course the old standby evite is an option for e-mailing invitations, but there are some really beautiful electronic invitations with added bells and whistles that you can pay a small fee to send. I personally LOVE Greenvelope for electronic invitations because their designs are gorgeous, the tracking and reminder features are SO helpful, and it is a flat fee to send out as many invitations as you want. It’s a great way to send a pretty invitation via e-mail while saving some money.

Tip 2: Get a Headcount

I don’t know what it is with people these days, but getting them to RSVP to anything is like mission impossible. (That’s a rant I’ll save for another day though.) Anyway, when you’re hosting a party and concerned about costs, it is SUPER important to know exactly how many people will be there (or darn near close to exactly how many). Having a reliable headcount will help you not overbuy (or underbuy, for that matter), and consequently, may save you a lot of cash.

So if people aren’t responding to your invitation, don’t be afraid to reach out to them (probably by phone), and ask if they plan to attend (in a friendly way, of course)!

Tip 3: Use a Food and Beverage Calculator

Once you have a close to accurate headcount of party guests, use a food and beverage calculator to figure out exactly how much food and drink you should have at your event. This will save you so much money because you won’t be overbuying expensive food and especially alcohol!

I used this great reference from Chickabug in planning my mom’s party, and it was so helpful in helping me determine how much of each thing I needed to buy.

Tip 4: Buy in Bulk

If ever there were a time to use that Sam’s Club or Costco membership, this is it. I can assure you that from the research I did for my mom’s party, the prices on frozen and fresh appetizers, drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), snacks, and meat (if you’re cooking for a dinner party), are cheaper than if you buy at your local grocery store.

Plus, buying in bulk and at once place saves you time and energy; both things that you need a lot of when planning a party.

As part of my planning process, I went to Costco one day and snapped pictures of all of the things I thought I might want to buy for my mom’s party. Then when I planned the menu I had exact prices and a good reminder of the foods and drinks that were available at Costco. It made the actual purchasing trip so much easier and efficient!

Tip 5: Stock the Bar with the Basics

If you’re serving alcohol at your party, I would recommend stocking the bar with the basics: beer, red wine and white wine. Then, plan a specialty cocktail of the night to have premixed and available for those guests who prefer a hard alcohol beverage to beer or wine. It will be a fun addition to the bar and allow you to forego purchasing many bottles of liquor that may or may not be consumed.

Photo used with permission from ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com)

Tip 6: Borrow What You Don’t Have (or Thrift It)

Instead of buying things for a party like serving platters or bowls, table linens, extra seating, or glassware, why not see if your friends and/or family will let you borrow some of theirs? Chances are you’ll be able to round up enough of what you need without having to spend a cent.

And if you just can’t find someone to lend you something you need, check out your local thrift shop. You might be surprised what you’ll find there at a bargain price!

Tip 7: Search for Free Printables Online

There are TONS of free printable party decor packs available online. If you run a search in Pinterest for a particular party theme, you are almost guaranteed to come across pins that will lead you to free printable decorations (like banners, cake toppers, party signs, etc.), or accessories (like photo booth props, water bottle labels, etc.) I even have a good selection on my Pinterest Printables board. Printing some of these at home or at the print shop is a quick and inexpensive way to add some fun decor to any party!

{BONUS} Tip 8: Buy Party Supplies & Decor at the Right Places

Discount stores, like dollar stores, can be a great source for party essentials like paper products and decorations. But be careful when purchasing because sometimes these products are not good quality. Check out my post on The Best Party Supplies to Buy at Dollar Tree (and Which Ones to Skip) for my go-to party supplies from Dollar Tree and what I’ve found to be a waste of money.

Also, purchasing flowers and greenery at the grocery store adds a fresh touch to party decor and is very budget-friendly! The 3 for $12 bunches of flowers from the grocery store flower shops are among my favorite party decorations. I break them up into small arrangements and place them throughout the party. Check out my post on How to Use Grocery Store Greenery to Create a Gorgeous Centerpiece for more inspiration!

And there you have it – my tips for hosting a big party on a little budget! I hope these help you with your next big party. Also, let me know if you have any other suggestions for ways to save cash while throwing a fabulous party!

One of my favorite things to do is wander the aisles of Michaels to see what adorable, new craft supplies they have. It’s like an instant injection of happy for me, and I bet a lot of you feel the same way! With every trip, my cart ends up with lots of fun finds and I leave with many new project ideas in mind.

But truth be told, there are certain craft supplies that I do not purchase from Michaels because I can get them from Dollar Tree for less (in some cases for a lotless). Of course people have quality concerns about products from Dollar Tree, but I’ve personally tested all of these products time and again and can vouch for them! That’s why I’m spilling my secrets on the 10 craft supplies you should buy at Dollar Tree! Trust me – this list will save you money so you can buy more of those cute supplies at Michaels or Hobby Lobby! (P.S. You might also like to read my post on The Best Party Supplies to Buy at Dollar Tree!)

1. Glassware (Vases, Mason Jars, Candle holders)

The selection of glassware at Dollar Tree is ah-ma-zing. There are tons of shapes and sizes of vases, mason jars, candle holders – you name it! And it’s all a dollar! Comparable glassware at a craft store typically costs five times as much.

2. Twine (Jute, Bleached, and Baker’s Twine)

Jute twine adds a perfect rustic touch to any project, while bleached twine and baker’s twine can definitely add a cute and whimsical feel to a craft. Dollar Tree has every type of twine you could need or want!

Find three packs of twine in the automotive aisle, and multi-packs of colored baker’s twine in the craft aisle.

3. Floral Foam

Oh my gosh. Floral foam is SO expensive when you buy it at the craft store. And I can’t figure out why. But at Dollar Tree it’s, yep, a dollar. And it comes in lots of shapes and sizes, too!

Now let me tell you I am not doing a lot of floral arranging over here, but floral foam is really great for building height in projects or stabilizing items within a container. I have used Dollar Tree’s floral foam in my moss bunny topiaries and patriotic paper straw centerpiece. It’s great.

4. Glitter

If you’re a crafter then you probably love glitter (until you have to clean it up). For something so tiny it can be kind of pricey though, you know? That’s why I like to purchase it at Dollar Tree. They typically have a lot of colors in their craft aisle, and they come in packages or containers that have enough to get the project done without leaving me with a ton left over. Their glitter glue is also awesome for projects for adults and kids alike!

I have used Dollar Tree glitter or glitter glue on my glitter glue valentines and a guest post I did on another blog (that you’ll see later this year).

5. Contact Paper

Most of you probably don’t think of contact paper as a craft supply, but it is awesome for making stencils on an electronic cutting machine (like a Silhouette), or even by hand! And it is half the price at Dollar Tree than at the hardware store or a big box store!

6. Clothespins

Clothespins are another product that might seem like a strange craft supply, but you see them ALL over the craft stores. And they are really versatile for crafting – from hanging banner pieces to making clips for signs or frames – they can be used in many ways. At Dollar Tree you get a pack of 36 for $1, and you can find them in the home improvement aisle.

7. Foam Board

If you have kids of school age then you know that foam board can be kind of expensive for what you’re getting. Hello, it’s a glorified poster board! That’s why it’s so great to purchase it at Dollar Tree. You will pay at least three times more at another store.

I have used Dollar Tree foam board in my Mr. and Mrs. moss bunny topiaries, as well as other projects I have not blogged here. If you want to check out the queen of foam board projects, you need to visit 3 Little Greenwoods because Ashley can turn a foam board into just about anything. Search her site and you’ll see what I mean.

8. Tissue Paper

Of course tissue paper is great for wrapping gifts, but it’s also a good product for crafting. Dollar Tree sells 40 pieces of white tissue for $1, and smaller packs of colored tissue for the same price. It’s the same quality as tissue paper I’ve purchased elsewhere and is not overly flimsy.

I have used Dollar Tree tissue on my mini sombrero pinatas, and think it would be great for decoupage projects as well!

9. Popsicle Sticks

I know that popsicle sticks are generally more of a kids craft item, but I ALWAYS use them as paint stirrer sticks in my smaller chalky paint containers or as glue applicators. I keep them on hand at all times! I also used them in this “LOVE” popsicle stick craft that my daughter made a couple of years ago (pardon the photography; this was when I was still using my phone to shoot blog photos.). They’re dirt cheap at Dollar Tree and a smart thing to have on hand!

10. Decorative Tape (Washi Tape, Duct Tape)

Finally, decorative tapes like washi tape and patterned duct tape are a great thing to buy at Dollar Tree! $1 is so much less than you pay at the craft store!

I don’t have any blogged projects that use washi tape or duct tape, but I have purchased these items from Dollar Tree and can attest that they work just as well as others that I’ve purchased elsewhere.

11. BONUS UPDATE – Paint Brushes

{UPDATE as of September 2017): I was so pumped to find 8 packs of foam brushes and synthetic bristle paint brushes at Dollar Tree this week! The prices on these brushes is so much lower than you pay at the craft store or home improvement store! Get some! A reader also gave me a tip that the $1 makeup brushes at Dollar Tree work great for decoupage. Keep that in mind as well!

I hope you found this post helpful! If you did, I’d really appreciate if you’d share this image on Pinterest or share the post on Facebook or somewhere else!

Well now that you’ve seen my list of craft supplies that you should be buying at Dollar Tree, what do you think? Do you have any others to add? Let me know if there’s something I should be buying there, too!

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Hi, I'm Bre! Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you'll find ideas to inspire your creativity and beautify your home. If this is your first visit, check out the Popular Posts tab at the top of the page to see some of the best of Average But Inspired!

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